Time-strike for watch and clock movements.



TIME STRIKE FOR APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1901.

PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

G. H. J. STRIGKBR 6; B. MEYER.

WATCH AND GLOGK MOVEMENTS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

MLM

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No. 884,686. PATENTED APR-14, 1908.

o. 11-. J. STRIGKER & E. MEYER. TIME STRIKE FOR WATCH AND CLOCK MOVEMENTS.

APPLICATION I'ILBD APR.23, 1907.

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NE Non/us PETERS 50., wAsmnawn n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL H. I. STRICKER AND EDWARD MEYER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

TIME-STRIKE FOR WATCH AND CLOCK MOVEMENTS.

No. senses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908..

Application filed April 23, 1907. Serial No. 369,802.

This invention provides novel means for use in connection with time movements to enable one to ascertain approximately the time when the dial and hands of the movement are not visible, being of particular ad vantage in the dark when light is not at hand.

The invention provides a novel strike which is readily adapted for watch and. clock movements, the same sounding the hour and any fractional part thereof, as the quarter, the latter being determined by one, two or three strokes of a hammer upon a gong or like sound producing device, one strike indicating a quarter past the hour, two strikes one-half past the hour and three strikes threequarters past the hour, or one-quarter to the next hour.

The invention contemplates a strike mechanism, means for determining the hour, other means indicating the quarter of hours and actuating means arranged either to be pressed. or pulled upon according to the nature of the time piece to which the strike attachment is adapted.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accom anying drawings.

VVhi e the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departin from the spirit or essential features thereo still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a strike mechanism embodyin the invention and particularly ada ted or clock movements. Fig. 2 is a top p an view of a clock movement, having the strike attachment fitted thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the invention as adapted for a watch movement. Fig. 4 is a detail erspective view of the operating means or the attachment shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the oper ating means for the strike mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the hammer and trip embodied in the adaptation shown in Fig. 3.

' Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention designed more particularly for attachment to clocks and shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, I it will be observed that the sound is produced by a hammer 3 acting upon the hell or gong 1. This hammer is actuated by means of an escape wheel 4 of any conventional form and a rack bar 5 meshes with a pinion 6 fast upon the arbor of [the escape wheel, or connected to the said escape wheel to rotate therewith.

The numeral 7 designates the hour snail and 8 the quarter hour snail, both snails being fast upon. the hollow shaft or sleeve carrying the hour hand of the movement, so as to rotate therewith. The hour snail 7 is of the form of a scroll and its edge approximates the form of an involute and is notched,

twelve notches or steps being provided corresponding with the twelve hours from noon to midnight and from midnight to noon. The quarter-hour snail 8 has twelve notches in its outer edge and the portions between the notches are off-set 'or stopped, the number of the off-sets or steps depending upon the fractional parts of the hour to be sounded. Since the present invention is adapted to sound the quarter hours, three notches or steps only will be provided corresponding to the quarter, half and three-quarters pastany given hour. The snails 7 and. 8 are arranged side by side and have simultaneous movement, which corresponds with the move ment of the hour hand. occupies a fixed position, hence the hour hand and the snails 7 and 8 move with reference thereto, thereby enabling the time of day to be approximately determined. A slide 9 is connected with the rack bar to move therewith and is operated by means of a button or finger piece 10. As slide and rack bar move, the scape wheel 4 is rotated by the action of the teeth of the rack The rack bar 5 bar upon the pinion. 6, the escape wheel in its 1 thereof coming in contact with the trip of the hammer. The length of travel of the slide 9 is determined by the snails 7 and 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the slide 9 is provided with a stem llwhich is provided at or near its inner end with two tappets 12 and 13, having an angular arrangement. These ta pets 12 and 13 project to unequal distances from the stem 11, the tappet 13 being adapted to engage with the edge of the quarter hour snail 8, whereas the tappet 12 is ada ted to engage with the edge of the hour snai 7. The stem 11 is mounted to receive a one-quarter movement, bars 14 and 15 limiting the turning of the stem in conjunction with the tappets 12 and 13 so as to correctly position said tappets to insure their proper engagement with the snails 7 8. When the stem 11 is pressed inward and is turned to bring the tappet 12 in the path of the hour snail, the hour is sounded, the number of strokes de ending upon the position of the hour snaiFand the depth or distance of its notched edge from the tappet 12. Suppose the time of day or night is between one and two oclock, the hour snail will occupy a position with the outermost portion of its edge in the path of the tappet 12, hence the rack bar 5 and stem 11 will receive a minimum movement resulting in rotating the scape wheel the distance of one tooth onl hence the hammer will strike the gong bel or other sounding device once, only. It will thus be understood that the hour of one has passed and that the time is between one and two oclock. To determine approximately the time within fifteen minutes, the stem 11 is drawn outward and is turned to bring the tappet 13 in the path of the quarter hour snail and if it is not quite fifteen minutes past one the stem cannot be operated because the tappet 13 will engage with the outermost portion of the quarter hour snail when sounding the alarm. However, should it be more than quarter past one and less than half ast, an inward movement of the stem 11 wi 1 cause the hammer to strike once. Should it be half past one and less than quarter of two, operation of the stem 1.1 will cause the hammer to strike two. Again, should it be more than three-quarters past one and less than two, the hammer upon ressing the stem 11 inward will strike three. It will thus be understood that the time of night or day may be approximated within fifteen minutes, which is near enough for all practical purpose. If the time is between twelve and one, the notch of the hour snail nearest the axis thereof will be opposite the stem 11 and upon pressing said stem inward it will receive a maximum movement and the hammer strike twelve, thereby making known the fact that the hour of twelve has passed, and to determine the quarter hour the stem 1 l is operated in the manner hereinbefore described to ascertain whether the time be fifteen minutes, half past or three quarters past twelve. The approximate time may be ascertained whenever desired, by simply operating the rack bar either by pulling or pressing upon the button or finger piece 10.

A modification of the invention designed to be employed in connection with watch movements is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and (3. In this form of the invention a fork 2 is employed for producing the sound because occupying a minimum amount of space, and the rack bar 5 engaging the pinion 6 is adapted to be drawn outwardly since the space wil not admit of arranging all the parts to one side of the movement. The escape wheel 4 actuating the hammer 3 through the medium of the trip 21 is arranged upon one side of the time piece and the tappet mechanism at the opposite side. The tappet 16 is provided with a pinion 17 which is in mesh with an idler 18 in turn meshing with a pinion 19 fast to the inner end of a rod or stem 20 mounted upon the rack bar 5*. The slide 9 corresponding to the slide 9 of the previously described embodiment of the invention, consists of two spaced plates carried by the end of the rack bar 5 and having the pinions 17, 18 and 19 j ournaled therebetween.

Upon pulling the stem 20 outward, the tappet 16 may engage with either the hour snail 7 or the quarter hour snail 8 according to its position, which may be determined by turning the stem 20 to the right or to the left. The

hammer 3 is provided with a trip 21 pivoted thereto and held at the limit of its outward movement by means of a spring 22 interposed between the hammer and trip. A pin 23 projected from a side of the hub of the trip is adapted to play in a notch formed in the hub of the hammer, whereby upon the inward movement of the stem the trip may be moved without operating the hammer and producing any sound.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a snail, a slidably mounted bar, a sound producing device operated by the slidable bar, a rod journaled upon the bar, and a tappet for engaging the snail to limit the movement of the bar, said tappet being controlled by the rod.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of snails, a slidably mounted bar, a sound roducing device operated by the slidable liar, a rod journaled upon the bar, and a pair of tappets for engaging the respective snails to limit the movement of the bar, said tappets being controlled by the before mentioned rod.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a snail, a sound producing member, a hammer cooperating with the sound producing member, an escape wheel for engaging the hammer, a pinion for rotating the escape Wheel, a slidably bar engaging hammer, a rod journaled upon the bar, and a tappet carried by the rod for engaging the snail to limit the movement of the bar.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a snail, a sound producing device, a slidable bar for actuating the sound producing device, a pair of spaced bars carried by the slidable bar, a rod journaled between the spaced bars, and a tappet carried by the rod and limited in its swinging movement by the spaced bars, the said tappet serving to engage the snail to limit the movement of the slidable bar.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of snails,va sound of spaced bars carried by the slidable bar, a rod journaled between the spaced bar, and a pair of tappets carried by the rod and arranged at angles to each other, either one of the tappets being designed to engage one of the bars to hold the other tappet in an operative position for engaging one of the snails to limit the sliding movement of the bar.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses. CARL H. J. STRICKER. EDWARD MEYER. Witnesses:

ALFRED W. SMITH, CHAS. P. SMITH.

[L. s.] [L. 5.]

mounted rack producing device, a slidably mounted bar for the pinion for actuating the actuating the sound producing device, a pair 

